JoeP.
Club Member
I worked on buttoning up some small stuff at the rear of the car today. I think I like the retro license plate too, because NAAWWZ! 
[/url]20180701_190208_Burst01 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
Rebuilding the coupe!
- Thread starter JoeP.
- Start date
JoeP.
Club Member
I finished up the radiator today before work. It mounts on these two upright tubes which slide into the recievers on the chassis.
[/url]20180702_114806 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
I painted the mounts to match the chassis, then spent a few hours with some metal polish to bring some bling back to the old Afco radiator. I found a bunch of old 12 point stainless ARP header bolts in a junk drawer to mount everything up front, because it makes me smile. I don't know why.
*EDIT*This pic below also shows where the top front wall of the fuel cell was angle cut and rewelded to tuck in tighter to the front bumper cover.
[/url]20180702_134206 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]20180702_134137 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
I painted the mounts to match the chassis, then spent a few hours with some metal polish to bring some bling back to the old Afco radiator. I found a bunch of old 12 point stainless ARP header bolts in a junk drawer to mount everything up front, because it makes me smile. I don't know why.
*EDIT*This pic below also shows where the top front wall of the fuel cell was angle cut and rewelded to tuck in tighter to the front bumper cover.
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JoeP.
Club Member
Nothing too visually exciting in this update, but at least another milestone in the project has been reached. I recieved the rest of my 3AN brake line fittings late Tuesday, so I finished plumbing the rear brakes and bled the system yesterday. The pedal sure has a nice, solid feel and I'm eager to try it out.
I ran the rear line along the inner left door sill and anchored it with insulated p-clamps to the original sill plate trim holes. The line curves behind the driver seat and through a 90 degree bulkhead fitting to under the car, where a short line connects to the rear axle flex hose.
[/url]20180704_174820_Burst01 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]20180704_174845 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]20180704_173949 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
I ran the rear line along the inner left door sill and anchored it with insulated p-clamps to the original sill plate trim holes. The line curves behind the driver seat and through a 90 degree bulkhead fitting to under the car, where a short line connects to the rear axle flex hose.
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JoeP.
Club Member
I took Friday off work to go watch my buddy Kevin run his yellow Gremlin at Milan in Outlaw 632. I'm curious about the class, and will probably try it once I get things sorted out a bit. The fireworks weren't bad, but we left about 12:30am midway through first round elim's. Yeah, things were moving super slow...
[/url]20180706_222044 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
But I did get a little inspiration, and dropped in the engine/trans to start the new plumbing and wiring required with the updates. Alot of the braided lines are 10 years old, so time to replace some hoses. The wiring will be mostly the same as before, other than a few minor changes such as the front mounted fuel pump and generally cleaning things up to look better. The radiator sits roughly 5" lower than before, so I need to find an inline filler cap housing so the cooling system works correctly.
[/url]20180709_134725 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]20180709_134528 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
But I did get a little inspiration, and dropped in the engine/trans to start the new plumbing and wiring required with the updates. Alot of the braided lines are 10 years old, so time to replace some hoses. The wiring will be mostly the same as before, other than a few minor changes such as the front mounted fuel pump and generally cleaning things up to look better. The radiator sits roughly 5" lower than before, so I need to find an inline filler cap housing so the cooling system works correctly.
orangejuiced86
Club Member
God damn that car is bad ass!!
JoeP.
Club Member
I've been working on a little wiring, and wanted to add external battery charging posts since the fiberglass trunk lid and new wing were added. I originally bought the inexpensive large copper lugs with black and red rubber caps, but I thought they looked too big and obtrusive. Plus, every other car I see with that style lug has the caps swinging loose from the terminals after they wear and don't snap on tightly anymore.
I ended up with the Allstar performance kit, which has tapered stud ends that attach to the battery charger wires and small sockets for the car. I didn't want them in the bumper cover because of flex, more dirt, and the possibilty of shorting in an accident or a moonshot wheelie. I see this style mounted often behind the fuel door, but mine was filled in years ago, so I mounted them in the license plate panel. To make it look better, I drilled holes in the plastic NOS plate I had and a tinted plate cover.
Yep, these details are the things that keep me awake at night lol.
[/url]20180712_132229 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]20180712_132517 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
I ended up with the Allstar performance kit, which has tapered stud ends that attach to the battery charger wires and small sockets for the car. I didn't want them in the bumper cover because of flex, more dirt, and the possibilty of shorting in an accident or a moonshot wheelie. I see this style mounted often behind the fuel door, but mine was filled in years ago, so I mounted them in the license plate panel. To make it look better, I drilled holes in the plastic NOS plate I had and a tinted plate cover.
Yep, these details are the things that keep me awake at night lol.
my89notchback
Club Member
Joe it looks great! That AMC looks really good too.
JoeP.
Club Member
Thanks Chris! And also thanks on the AMC, it has been my main project the last few years. It was built mainly to the Pure Stock Musclecar Drag Race rules (though not to the fullest extent). It's a 1970 AMX, 390 4 speed "go package" car that has been 13.50 @ 100 mph so far (the 4.10 gear is too much, running out of motor after 1000'). I won my shootout at the 2017 pure stocks against a 1970 Corvette big block 4 speed car, and had a blast! My neighbor is one of the co-founders of the event, and talked me into building the car to participate. Hemming's Muscle Machines magazine covered the race in the Jan 2018 edition (with a black "Bandit" Trans Am on the cover).
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my89notchback
Club Member
Super clean car. Dose the vacuum operated door on the hood still work?
JoeP.
Club Member
The vacuum actuator setup still works but had a slight leak in the servo diaphram, so I have a ball bearing pressed into the rubber hose which lets the ram air doors rest open all the time. Those little servos are crazy expensive when you find them!
BTW, I'd be interested in any AMC parts you guys may know of, mainly 390/401 engine and AMC T10 4 speed stuff. Send me a PM with any leads!
BTW, I'd be interested in any AMC parts you guys may know of, mainly 390/401 engine and AMC T10 4 speed stuff. Send me a PM with any leads!
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black88coupe
Club Member
The car looks great Joe. Your attention to detail is very inspiring.
JoeP.
Club Member
Thanks Mitch!
I hope to have most everything wrapped up in a few more weeks on the blue bomber. I've been slowly chipping away at the electrical updates. I'm using the same ARC soft touch 12 circuit panel as before but have several changes to make.
The fuel pump wires ran to the front.
The tail light wiring shortened/simplified.
The rear axle speed sensor wiring re connected and a new grommet through the floor (the old grommet was too small and the connector couldn't pull through while disassembling the car).
The accelerometer was moved from the wiper cowl area to the RF floor, so wiring was extended.
The headlight harness was extended and will have a weatherpack connector to make removing the front clip easier.
Need to make cables for the battery charging lugs in the trunk.
Probably more to come...
[/url]20180717_112645 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
I hope to have most everything wrapped up in a few more weeks on the blue bomber. I've been slowly chipping away at the electrical updates. I'm using the same ARC soft touch 12 circuit panel as before but have several changes to make.
The fuel pump wires ran to the front.
The tail light wiring shortened/simplified.
The rear axle speed sensor wiring re connected and a new grommet through the floor (the old grommet was too small and the connector couldn't pull through while disassembling the car).
The accelerometer was moved from the wiper cowl area to the RF floor, so wiring was extended.
The headlight harness was extended and will have a weatherpack connector to make removing the front clip easier.
Need to make cables for the battery charging lugs in the trunk.
Probably more to come...
JoeP.
Club Member
I used a CSR inline filler neck and pieced together the fittings for the upper radiator hose. I'm not thrilled with having so many pieces to make it work. I had a small aluminum filler neck on order that I wanted to weld onto the y-block originally, but it has been discontinued. Maybe I can come up with something better eventually.
[/url]20180717_135032 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
I also bought a new smaller breather tank for the vacuum pump since the old 1 quart tank would only ever have barely a drop of oil in it. I considered just hanging it off the pump with a 90 degree elbow, but didn't want to risk snapping the aluminum threads off the top of the pump.
I found this little hinged 1" ID p-clamp from Summit (it's a motorcycle foot peg mount) that fit the bill.
[/url]20180717_135101 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
I also bought a new smaller breather tank for the vacuum pump since the old 1 quart tank would only ever have barely a drop of oil in it. I considered just hanging it off the pump with a 90 degree elbow, but didn't want to risk snapping the aluminum threads off the top of the pump.
I found this little hinged 1" ID p-clamp from Summit (it's a motorcycle foot peg mount) that fit the bill.
black88coupe
Club Member
Looks great
JoeP.
Club Member
I had a busy weekend. Most all of the wiring is done, so I was able to finish up the trunk lid/wing.
[/url]20180721_182735 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]20180722_124141 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
I picked up a 96" clear flourecent light bulb protecter to cut up and use for rollbar scuff shields, works great for under $5. Then I finished up the interior, along with a new harness to replace the expired one.
[/url]20180721_153147 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]20180722_124026 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
[/url]20180722_124055 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
I picked up a 96" clear flourecent light bulb protecter to cut up and use for rollbar scuff shields, works great for under $5. Then I finished up the interior, along with a new harness to replace the expired one.
black88coupe
Club Member
I dig it!
JoeP.
Club Member
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JoeP.
Club Member
I started getting the front clip installed today, it's all the same parts as before. I painted the inside of the lightened steel front fenders flat black since they are so visable now. Racecraft bolt on dzus rails for the hood. Same Schoneck composites front bumper, now trimmed slightly for easier fuel cell access.
[/url]20180726_134452 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr[/IMG]
